Winter Guard International (WGI) is a visual performing arts organization that hosts regional and national competitions for color guard (known as winter guard) and indoor percussion ensembles. Contests are held in the U.S. and Canada. WGI headquarters is located in Dayton, Ohio.
Emerging from the indoor color guard activity, WGI was founded in San Francisco, California in 1977 by Don Angelica from New Jersey, Shirlee Whitcomb from Southern California, Stanley Knaub from Seattle, Washington, Bryan Johnston from Chicago, Illinois, Marie Czapinski from Chicago, Illinois, and Lynn Lindstrom from Arlington Heights, Illinois. Together they created the first division of WGI, the color guard division. The second division, indoor percussion, would not be established until 1992. The third division, winds, was established in 2014.
WGI was created as a competitive vehicle for the performing arts. The organization sets standardized rules and criteria, provides educational clinics and resources, and manages competitions on a regional, national, and international scale.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Mission statement
"WGI Sport of the Arts exists to foster positive experiences for all who participate, by promoting education, creativity and freedom of expression through the unification of pageantry and the performing arts."
Competition
At the conclusion of a competitive season that starts in January, guards and percussion ensembles come together to compete within their respective divisions at the WGI World Championships every April. To qualify for competition, both guard and percussion groups must perform in at least one WGI regional contest during the season. The World Championships are usually held in Dayton, OH, however, every few years Championships are temporarily relocated: San Diego, CA (2004), Milwaukee, WI (2001), Phoenix, AZ (1997), and Buffalo, NY (1990)
WGI Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame is the highest honor to those individuals who make a significant contribution to WGI, and who have in some way influenced the course of its history. Their contribution may be made through artistic standards, administrative leadership or adjudication.
Scholarship Opportunities
As a part of their commitment to education, WGI offers scholarships every year. One member from each color guard or percussion group, performing at the Championships, qualifies to apply. More than $200,000 has been awarded to WGI participants over the years. The scholarship money is collected through raffles, World Championship program sales, and donations. Recipients are announced at the end of the night at the World Championships.
Color Guard
The visual art form of color guard incorporates spinning flags, rifles, sabres, and other various pieces of equipment, while performing to a selection of music, classical to contemporary. Movement is also featured and integrated into the equipment work. WGI began with only 30 participating color guards. Today, it has grown to over 400 guard and percussion groups.
Competition Classifications
WGI classifies color guards into two divisions: Scholastic and Independent. Scholastic guards are made up of members from the same high school. University guards are classified in Independent Class. Independent guards often do not associate themselves with any one school, university units being the exception.
WGI goes on to divide these two divisions even further into classes. There are three classes in each division: A Class, Open Class, and World Class. A Class is for beginner to intermediate level ensembles. Open Class is for those better than A Class, World Class is the highest, reserved for experienced and superior color guards. Independent World Class is the only class with no age restrictions. Performers in the Open class age out at the age of 23 and performers in A class "age-out" at 22 years old, and can no longer compete in those classes after their twenty-third birthday twenty-fourth birthday, but may continue performing with the Independent World Class. Any guard from outside the United States do not have to abide by the age restrictions for A and Open Classes.
- Color Guard Scholastic A (SA)
- Color Guard Independent A (IA)
- Color Guard Scholastic Open (SO)
- Color Guard Independent Open (IO)
- Color Guard Scholastic World (SW)
- Color Guard Independent World (IW)
Class Champions by Year, Historical Top 10 High Scores, Color Guard Fan's Favorite Award
Color Guard Class Champions by Year
Color Guard Top 10 Historical High Scores
Color Guard Fan's Favorite Award
Color Guard Independent World Class
CGIW Medal Count
Color Guard Independent Open Class
CGIO Medal Count
Color Guard Independent A Class
CGIA Medal Count
Color Guard Scholastic World Class
CGSW Medal Count
Color Guard Scholastic Open Class
CGSO Medal Count
Color Guard Scholastic A Class
CGSA Medal Count
Indoor Percussion
In 1992, WGI oversaw the development of the second division, indoor percussion. Only six groups competed the first year, and that first year Clovis West High School from Fresno, California won the Championships. Indoor Marching percussion ensembles perform a musical selection while also featuring marching drill patterns and tying in artistic visual effects. Indoor Concert Percussion ensembles perform in a standstill setting.
In addition to regular instrumentation of the percussion section of a drum corps, instruments such as the drum set, and electric bass and keyboard are often used in the front ensemble but aren't marched. Narration is used much more than in Drum Corps as well.
Competition Classifications
Like the color guard division, indoor percussion saw such a rapid growth that there became a need for multiple classes. As of 1999, eight classes have been created to accommodate indoor percussion's rising popularity. The concert classes are designed for scholastic percussion ensembles who do not feature marching in their performance.
- Percussion Scholastic A (PSA)
- Percussion Independent A (PIA)
- Percussion Scholastic Concert Open (PSCO)
- Percussion Scholastic Open (PSO)
- Percussion Independent Open (PIO)
- Percussion Scholastic Concert World (PSCW)
- Percussion Scholastic World (PSW)
- Percussion Independent World (PIW)
As WGI Indoor Percussion began to expand in the mid-1990s, the unit classification system fluctuated until the new millennium. Some early, but no longer active, classes include:
- Percussion Scholastic AA, used in 1996
- Percussion College Class, used in 1997
- Percussion Independent Concert Class, used from 1997-1999
- Percussion University Class, used in 1999
Class Champions by Year, Historical Top 10 High Scores, Indoor Percussion Fan's Favorite Award
Class Champions By Year
Indoor Percussion Top 10 Historical High Scores
*Mansfield High School receiving a time penalty from 99.1 to 98.9
Indoor Percussion Fan's Favorite Award
Percussion Independent World Class
PIW Medal Count
Percussion Independent Open Class
PIO Medal Count
Percussion Independent A Class
PIA Medal Count
Percussion Scholastic World Class
PSW Medal Count
Percussion Scholastic Open Class
PSO Medal Count
Percussion Scholastic A Class
PSA Medal Count
Percussion Scholastic Concert World Class
PSCW Medal Count
Percussion Scholastic Concert Open Class
PSCO Medal Count
Winds
Created in 2014, this unique form of the marching music activity can include anything found in a concert band or orchestra, as well as color guard and percussion performers. Winds is considered the final extension of the WGI organization and completes WGI's support of the total band program.
Competition Classifications
WGI classifies Winds into two divisions: Scholastic and Independent. Scholastic ensembles are made up of members from the same high school. University ensembles are classified in Independent Class. Independent ensembles often do not associate themselves with any one school, university units being the exception.
WGI goes on to divide these two divisions even further into classes. There are three classes in each division: A Class, Open Class, and World Class. A Class is for beginner to intermediate level ensembles. Open Class is for those better than A Class, World Class is the highest, reserved for experienced and superior ensembles. Independent World Class is the only class with no age restrictions. Any ensemble from outside the United States do not have to abide by the age restrictions for A and Open Classes.
- Winds Scholastic A (SA)
- Winds Independent A (IA)
- Winds Scholastic Open (SO)
- Winds Independent Open (IO)
- Winds Scholastic World (SW)
- Winds Independent World (IW)
Class Champions by Year, Historical Top 10 High Scores, Winds Fan's Favorite Award
Winds Class Champions by Year
Winds Top 10 Historical High Scores
Winds Fan's Favorite Award
Winds Independent World Class
WIW Medal Count
Winds Independent Open Class
WIO Medal Count
Winds Independent A Class
WIA Medal Count
Winds Scholastic World Class
WSW Medal Count
Winds Scholastic Open Class
WSO Medal Count
Winds Scholastic A Class
WSA Medal Count
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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